The New England Patriots' backfield has a distinct GulfCoast flavor. New Orleans native BenJarvus Green-Ellis is the current work horse. He's bookended by a pair of former LSU standouts: veteran Kevin Faulk and rookie Stevan Ridley, who the Patriots selected in the third round of last year's NFL Draft. The trio forms three-fourths of the New England depth chart at running back.

The Associated PressFormer LSU running back Stevan Ridley continues the tradition of former Tigers at New England.

"LSU has always had great backs and a big offensive line, so we know how to run the football," Ridley said. "For me, that's the easy part of my game, running the football. I have to focus on some of the other things to bring my game all the way around so I can be a complete all-around back."

Ridley is the latest former Tiger to land in New England, following Faulk, Jarvis Green, Rohan Davey and the late Marquise Hill.

"If I can have half the career that Faulk did, I'll be a happy man," Ridley said. "Faulk is teaching me those things, how to handle Coach (Bill Belichick), how to handle the different things that come along with this game. It's more than just playing football. You have to be an adult. This is your job, and that's what he's teaching me, the right way to do things. I'm just trying to go out there and be a good (LSU) Tiger and good Patriot at the end of the day."

Ridley credited New Orleans native and LSU running backs coach Frank Wilson for his development in college. Wilson was also Green-Ellis' coach at Ole Miss.

"I'm here to say I never thought I'd be here in a million years. I never thought I'd be playing football in the NFL, but one thing I did know how to do was work hard, and that's something coach Frank told me: keep your nose clean and work hard and the sky is the limit."